Umbilical Hernia Surgery

What is an Umbilical Hernia?

An Umbilical hernia is a hernia that occurs when part of the bowel or fatty tissue bulges through the opening in your abdominal muscles at or near your belly button.

Umbilical hernias make up about 10% of hernias in adults and occur more often in adults over the age of 60, when the muscles start to weaken.

small umbilical hernia on man
umbilical hernia on man
umbilical hernia on woman

How Serious is an Umbilical Hernia?

These hernias aren’t necessarily dangerous but can be painful under certain situations that can stress the area.

Symptoms of Umbilical Hernia

  • A bulge in the abdominal area that usually increases with coughing or straining.
  • Pain or pressure at the hernia site.
  • Constipation.
If the hernia becomes strangulated, you may experience sharp abdominal pain and vomiting.
diagram of hernia locations on the body

Do Umbilical Hernias Always Need Surgery?

Since an Umbilical hernia will not get better or go away on its own, it is often recommended to have surgery.

The watch and wait approach may only be recommended if the hernia is very small and not causing any symptoms.
"Dr Yunis has already done a repair for me with an excellent outcome. He and his staff are attentive and considerate of the whole patient and their needs. He is very helpful in achieving a proper diagnosis more than just whether you need a hernia operation"
Peter F.
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How do you Fix an Umbilical Hernia?

Umbilical hernia repair pushes the contents of the hernia back into place and closes the abdominal wall defect through various surgical options.

Umbilical hernia repair is typically one of the simplest and safest operations among all hernia procedures. It is an operation that takes less than one hour and can be performed outpatient in a hospital or surgery center. It is usually performed under general anesthesia. It can be performed with conventional open techniques or with the latest robotic technology.

Dr. Yunis offers a variety of hernia repair techniques based on the type of hernia and to suit his patients' needs. Techniques available for Umbilical hernia repair include:

Open Hernia Repair

This type of hernia surgery involves making a small cosmetically oriented incision near the hernia and sewing the hernia defect closed. Dr Yunis has a bias to avoid the use of mesh in small umbilical hernias.

The conventional open technique is the most common and appropriate technique for typical small umbilical hernias. It involves a small incision around the umbilicus (belly button). The incision is made as small as possible with an emphasis on an optimal cosmetic outcome. The hernia is exposed with delicate and meticulous technique. After complete exposure of the hernia defect and reduction of the hernia contents, the hernia is repaired with a sewing technique without the use of mesh and in some cases mesh is used to help prevent the risk of hernia recurrence. The use of mesh in umbilical hernias remains a topic of great controversy among hernia specialists. After repair of the hernia defect, the subcutaneous tissue and skin is reconstructed with a strong emphasis on optimal cosmetic outcome.

Robotic Repair

This is often used for larger umbilical hernias. It involves the use of the DaVinci robot through 3 small (half inch) incisions in the side of the abdomen.

The robotic repair is a minimally invasive technique appropriate for larger umbilical hernias. This involves general anesthesia and three half inch incisions on the right or left side of the abdomen. An ultra high definition 3d camera is inserted through one of the incisions and different instruments (scissor, clamps, or sewing needle holders) are inserted through the other two incisions. The camera and the instruments are attached to a robotic arm system. The surgeon controls everything while sitting in a console with a 3D viewer and sophisticated hand controls and multiple foot pedals. Ultimately the hernia is well exposed and sewn closed and usually a mesh is sewn below the area to reinforce the repair. The technology allows for unsurpassed vision and delicacy in the repair that yields a less painful result than laparoscopic surgery from the recent past.

Laparoscopic Repair

Laparoscopic Repair involves the use of mesh or sutures being placed behind the hernia through small incisions in the side of the abdomen.

Recovery Time for Umbilical Hernia Surgery

Most people will experience some degree of pain or discomfort after the surgery that will delay returning to office-type work for a day or two.

Depending on the size of the hernia many can return to physical activities within weeks of the operation.

Would You Like More Info?

Call us or visit the emergency room if you are experiencing severe symptoms.

At Center for Hernia Repair , we specialize in the treatment of hernias and prioritizing patient comfort and satisfaction.

Dr. Yunis relies on his 20 years of experience and expertise in a variety of repair techniques to offer his patients a customized treatment plan to suit their needs.

Schedule a Telemedicine Consultation today.
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FAQs

Is umbilical hernia surgery considered major surgery?
No- most umbilical hernias are not considered major surgery and patients go home the same day.
Is it worth getting umbilical hernia surgery?
Many people can live with a hernia for their whole lives. Many choose to have their umbilical hernia repaired due to discomfort or pain, enlargement, or to eliminate the risk of emergency incarceration and strangulation.
Will I have to stay at the hospital after surgery?
No. Umbilical hernia repair is uniformly an outpatient operation.
Where will you perform the procedure?
It can be performed in a hospital or a surgery center.
What do I need to do to prepare for Umbilical hernia repair?
If possible, optimize weight to achieve close to ideal body weight.
Will I need to lose weight?
If one’s weight is significantly more than ideal, it is often beneficial to lose weight prior to umbilical hernia repair.

Center for Hernia Repair

1435 South Osprey Avenue
Suite 201
Sarasota, Florida 34239
941.953.5917
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